Where to Stay in the USA

The Wigwam Motel on Route 66, Holbrook, Arizona. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

American accommodation runs from $30 hostel dorms to $1,000-a-night resorts, with the sweet spot in the $120 to $250 mid-range. Summer and holidays spike prices everywhere tourists go.

Hotels and motels

Mid-range chains (Holiday Inn, Hampton, Courtyard) are consistent and everywhere; book direct for the best rate. Motels are the budget road-trip classic along highways and Route 66.

Resort fees are the great American gotcha: Las Vegas, Miami and Hawaii hotels add $25 to $60 per night in mandatory fees not shown in the headline price. Always check the total.

Our city guides name only verified, well-known properties; for everything else, search live availability on Booking.com.

Vacation rentals and alternatives

Airbnb and Vrbo dominate vacation rentals, but many cities (New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco) restrict short stays; check the listing is legal. Hostels (HI USA network) cover the big cities from around $35 a night.

National-park lodges book out a year ahead for summer. Camping in the parks needs reservations (recreation.gov) the moment they open.